Sender for pneumatic-despatch tubes.



No. 744,815. PATENTED- NOV. 24, 1903.

K. E. STUART.

SENDBR FORl PNBUMATIC DESPALFCH TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1908.

N0l MODEL.

UNITED Siafrus Patented November 24, 1903. l

FFICE.

SENDER FOR PNEUMATlC-DESPATCl-l TUBES.

SPEGIFICATON forming part of" Letters Patent No. 744,81 5, dated November 24, 1903.

Application filed July 8, 1902. Serial No. 114,762. (No model.)

.To @ZZ whom il? may con/067%:

Be it known that I, KENNETH E. STUART, a citizen of the United States of America, residingin the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Senders for Pneu1natic-Despatch Tubes, of which the following is a true and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to pneumatic-d espatch tubes, particularly to the construction of that part of the system which provides for the insertion of carriers, and is generally known as the sender, the object of my invention being to provide mechanism of an exceedingly simple and convenient character,whereby the tube is normally kept closed and whereby also the insertion of a carrier effects the opening of the tube for its reception.

The nature of myimproved devices and the character and scope of my invention will be best understoodas described in connection with the drawings in which it is illustrated, and in Which Figure lis a front elevation of the-sending device shown partly in section on the line 1.1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a modified construction involving my invention, Fig. 4 being a longitudinal section on the broken line 4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a `longitudinal central section illustrating another modification of of my invention.

Reference being first had to the construction shown in Figs. l and 2, which is', I believe, that best adapted for use, A indicates the pneumatic-despatch tube, and B a receiving-mouthpiece, through which the carriers are inserted into the tubes, the mouthpiece having, preferably, the flared construction shown in the drawings. Thev mouthpiece or tube adjacent thereto and virtually forming a part thereof is provided with a seat ct, in which rest the gates, to be hereinafter described, and adjacent to the seat a transverse slots c' are formed through the walls of the tube through which the gates can move. The iiared portion of the mouthpiece B has formed in it longitudinal slots (indicated at B' B) for the passage of the wedge-like extension from the gates, to be lhereix'iafter described. C is a casing surrounding the mouthpiece, and having, as shown, an enlarged chainbered head, (indicated at C',)O2 Cgindicating slots in the front of the casing C, Which register with the slots B of the mouthpiece. D is a pivot-pin passing through the chamber C', and upon which are journaled the hub-bear ings E2 e2 of the gates E e, which gates have formedA upon their front faces the Wedge-like extensions, (indicated at E e.) F is a centering-pin which serves as a stop to regulate the normal position of the gates in closing the mouthpiece, and G G indicate springarms pressing against the gates and tendingl to hold them closed in the position shown in Fig. l..

The construction shown in Figsf and 4 is substantially like that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, except that the casing C is not provided with a slot C2, and the gates E e are not provided with the Wedge-shaped extensions E e', in place of which I here indicate the use of hinged arms H H', pivoted at the top of the slots D at H H and having their lower ends projecting into notches E3 e3 in the abutting edges of the gates.

In the construction shown in Fig. 5 I have4 indicated a single sliding gate E4, having a Wedge-shaped extension E5 projecting into a single slot B2 in the mouthpiece B, and in place of the casing C, I have indicated a casing I, having a slot 1 in its front face, into which casing the gate E4 can be moved..

In operation the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has normally the position indicated in those drawings, the gates entirely closing the mouthpiece. The usual cylindrical carrier is thrust into the mouthpiece B, and coming in contact with the Wedge-shaped projections E e' forces them and the gates of which they form part aside, the wedge projections passf ing through the slots B and the gates swing ing out through the transverse slots a away for the carrier to enter the tube A, and as soon as the carrier passes into the tube A the gate immediately swings back to closed position under the iniiuence of gravity or, as

` shown, of the spring-arms G G. In the construction shown in Fig. 4 the inserted carrier passes the hinged arms H', forcing them apart, and they in turn by their engagement with the gates force the gates through the' slots a', leaving a free passage for the carrier. The gates, as before, close as soon as the carrier has cleared them under the influence of the spring-arm G. In the construction shown in Fig. 5 the gate is pushed out into the transfer-slot d by the action of the carrier pressing on the Wedge-shaped 'incline E5, the gate closing after the passage of the carrier by gravity or any convenient constantly-acting force.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. As a sender for pneumatic4 tubes, a mouthpiece, a sliding gate or gates normally closing said mouthpiece at some distance from its outer edge, means for closing and keeping the gate closed, and agate-actuating device consisting of one or more inclines extending from the Wall of the mouthpiece in- Ward therein to the edge or edges of the gates and serving, to open the gates when thrust backward by a carrier.

2. As a sender for pneumatic tubes, a mouthpiece having a seat for a sliding gate or gates and a slot or slots formed through its walls in front of said seat, a gate or gates sliding on the seat aforesaid and retractable laterally from the mouthpiece, a wedge-like extension fromsaid gate or gates extending from its or their front faces and retractable through the slots aforesaid and means for opening the gate o1 gates normally extending into the mouthpiece in front of the gate in position to be operated. by an inserted carrier said means consisting of devices retractable through the slot or slots in the mouthpiece.

3. As a sender for pneumatic tubes, a mouthpiece having a seat for sliding gates, in combination with slidinggates moving on said seat and retractable through transverse slots in the mouthpiecemedgedike projections E e extending from the front of the gates and retractable through longitudinal slots in the mouthpiece and' constantly acting means tending to close the gates.

4. As a sender for pneumatic tubes, a mouthpiece having a seat for sliding gates, in combination with slidinggates moving on said seat and retractable through transverse slots in the mouthpiece, said gates being pivoted on a support outside of the mouthpiece,wedge like projections E e' extending from the front of the gates and retractable through longitudinal slots in the mouthpiece and constantlyacting means tending to close the gates.

, KENNETH E. STUART. Witnesses:

CHAs. A. MYERS, D. STEWART. 

